THE DELTA VARIANT HAS ARRIVED

VACCINATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

The majority of residents in the United States are fully vaccinated, and nearly 70 percent of adults have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.

At the same time, the federal government and many state and local governments have relaxed restrictions. The fully vaccinated have been able to return to seeing loved ones and living their lives nearly the same as before the pandemic.

However, the delta variant is spreading and every state in the country is now seeing increases of positive COVID-19 cases. The delta variant is dangerous because it is so contagious. In a setting where no one is vaccinated or wearing masks—it is estimated that the average person infected with the original coronavirus strain will infect 2.5 other people. In the same environment, delta can spread from one person to 4 other people.

People who have chosen not to take the vaccine and children under 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine are most at risk. The rate of the spread will largely depend on the percent of people vaccinated in your community. States with low vaccination rates in the South and Midwest are seeing very large surges in people getting sick while states like New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are seeing fewer cases.

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself from delta variant is to get fully vaccinated. That means if you get a two-dose vaccine like Pfizer or Moderna, for example, you must get both shots and then wait the recommended two-week period for those shots to take full effect. Whether or not you are vaccinated. People who are not yet vaccinated should continue to wear masks and make plans to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

Those living in areas where vaccination rates are low and delta cases are high may want to continue covering their faces, particularly in high-risk settings, such as indoor gatherings, areas with large crowds or places such as senior living facilities, where the consequences of transmission could be grave.

We have come very far in the fight against the pandemic, but we have more to go. Continue to talk to your family, friends, and co-workers and share your experience with the vaccine that is the best bet to protect ourselves from the delta variant.

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NEW STUDY: COVID-19 VACCINES SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN NEW YORK CITY

A study conducted by Yale University and the New York City Health Department estimates that the coronavirus vaccines prevented a staggering 8,300 deaths and 44,000 hospitalizations in New York City during the first six months of 2021. Additionally, the vaccine effort stopped an estimated 250,000 new coronavirus infections.

“The bottom line is, vaccination saves lives,” Dr. Alison Galvani, a Yale epidemiologist and the paper’s author. “Our study underscores that the swift vaccine rollout has played a pivotal role in reducing the COVID-19 burden, and curbing surges from more transmissible emerging variants.”

“The more New Yorkers that get vaccinated, the better for them and the rest of the city,” she added. This is great news for New Yorkers and everyone who has been vaccinated. The vaccines are safe and effective— and they are saving lives.

Evidence shows that vaccines prevented a quarter million infections in New York City alone.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Q: How effective are the vaccines against the delta variant?

A: Real-world data suggests that all three vaccines authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offer strong protection against severe disease and death from the delta variant, although they appear to offer less robust protection against minor to moderate infections.